Journey Through Matthew: Midnight Stroll
Journey Through Matthew • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 10 viewsWhen we have faith in Jesus we can do anything God has called us to do, even walking on the water. However, when we take our eyes off of Jesus we sink into the abyss.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
Good evening and welcome back.
Tonight if you will turn back in your Bibles to .
This morning we talked about eating supper and tonight we are going to talk about something that many people do after they eat.
A Midnight Stroll.
However, this stroll is like none other we have ever witnessed and I would say, none like any other we have every experienced ourselves.
This what I am talking about of course is Jesus’ Midnight Stroll on the water out to the disciples.
Just like the importance of the events we talked about this morning, this one is also very significant in the ministry of Jesus as it is recorded in 3 of the 4 gospels.
We have it here in Matthew and it is also recorded in as well as .
And many times we think that the whole story and the entire significance is related to Peter walking on the water with Jesus.
This is very important and very significant but it is only one part of the narrative here.
There is actually a great deal at play here, so let’s get right into it.
Again, we are looking at .
Matthew writes . . .
Scripture Focus
Scripture Focus
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Matthew 14:
Some Alone Time (vs 22-24)
Some Alone Time (vs 22-24)
So, here we are now right after Jesus feeds the 5000 men and how ever many women and children were with them.
And if you recall, when the events we talked about this morning were taking place, what Jesus was really doing was trying to find a place to be alone for a while.
Remember earlier in the narrative . . .
12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.
Matthew 14:
Jesus was just trying to get some peace and quiet so that he could refresh and recharge a bit.
And sometimes I think we forget the importance of solitude and “alone time.”
And when I say “alone time,” we are not really alone, but rather time when we are alone with God.
Time when we can reflect and block out all of the noise and distractions of the world and focus on God.
Time when we can be refreshed and renewed.
Paul even says . .
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
And what I would like for us to focus on is the phrase, renewed day by day.
As Paul points out, this world and this life takes it’s toll on us and we are outwardly wasting away.
However, in order to make we have to get to a place where we are renewed.
And if we really want to be healthy we should be doing it day by day.
I have found for me personally, I have to.
If I don’t then I am a grouchy old bear.
Just ask my wife!
You know, she’s been through a lot the last few months and I have been concerned about her.
But also there have been lots of things competing for my time and attention.
And I have found for me as stress increases, my need for alone time increases.
If I do not stay centered, then I end up a mess.
And really all of us have to do that.
For me, it is getting up early in the morning and drinking coffee and just taking a deep breath and listening for a while.
For others it may be something else.
But we all need that time and we all need to connect with God.
And we think it strange that Jesus would also need this, but remember he is fully human and fully man, so he also needs that connection with the Father.
But also, he is showing us an example of how we should be as well.
So, after he hears of John’s death, he wants to be a alone with God for a while, but the crowds follow.
And Jesus does what Jesus does, he ministers to the crowds.
But after that, he again tries to get alone with the Father . . .
Matthew tells us that after the meal . . .
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
Matthew 14:22
He sends the disciples away on the boat and finally was alone with the Father, so he could pray.
And I don’t know if Jesus sensed there was a problem, or if he had finished praying and was going to make is way back to the boat, the Bible doesn’t really say, but . . .
24 but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
And the reason this was a problem was because the water was shallow and this wasn’t a very big boat.
And when the wind gets up, the more shallow the water the heavier the waves gets and it can get pretty dangerous, pretty fast.
John tells us that . . .
John 6:
18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.
So, the boat was in trouble.
So, the boat was in trouble.
In fact, Mark tells us that when Jesus returned to the shore where the boat was at . . .
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,
Mark 6:
Take Courage (vs 25-27)
Take Courage (vs 25-27)
Now, what Jesus does next, even though the disciples were very afraid and thought they were going to die is a bit comical if you really look at it.
Matthew writes that . . .
25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
Matthew 14:25
And Mark adds . . .
48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,
Mark 6:48-
And finally John …
19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified.
John 6:
And the comical part of this is their reaction to Jesus.
Here he is at 3AM walking out on the lake to them and almost walks by them.
And they “cry out” probably crying out to God because they thought they had seen a ghost!
And what is ironic is here is God coming to save them and they don’t even recognize it.
And besides the point of them thinking they have seen a ghost scaring them, also one of the old maritime legends they knew about was that when you saw a ghost on the water that meant you were about to die.
So they are crying out to God to save them, who is already there.
And for us, how often do we do the same thing?
We are so consumed by all of the trouble and all of the things going on around us that we cannot even see when God is right in front us.
We cry out to God to help us, but the reality is God is already here.
God is not in some far off land, waiting to hear from us.
God is ever-present, always right beside us.
Walking with us.
Carrying us through things.
5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
And . . .
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Folks, God is always here!
Whether it is 3AM or 3PM, God is here, but we spend more time crying out in fear of the unknown instead of recognizing God at work in our situation.
And that is really all the disciples are doing here, failing to recognize the Savior at work.
And when Jesus sees their fear . . .
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
And that is what God is saying to us every single day.
Don’t be afraid.
Take courage because He is here.
Whatever it is that we are going through, we can take courage and be encouraged because God is with us!
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus (vs 28-31)
Keep Your Eyes on Jesus (vs 28-31)
And Peter though, has to push things to the limit.
He has to make absolutely sure.
Can’t take it by faith, so . . .
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
And Jesus’ response is simple, concise, but brilliant all at the same time.
29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.
Isn’t that all Jesus is saying to any of us.
“Come to me....”
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
All we have to do is respond to Jesus when he calls and things will be okay.
Regardless of how bad we think they are going to get.
And truth be told they may get bad, but if we stay focused on Jesus, stay focused on God we can get through it.
We can make it.
But what we have a tendency to do is when things are not going according to our plans or according to how we think they should go, we run into problems.
Which is what happens to Peter here . . .
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Matthew 14:
You see what he did was he lost focus.
He took his focus off Jesus and was more concerned about the wind and the waves.
He got scared because he forgot who he was watching and instead focused on the problem.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
We have got to stay focused on God, if we want to make it.
If we want to “walk on the water” with Jesus we have got to focus on Jesus and try to remove the distractions of the world.
But Jesus didn’t just let him sink . . .
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
Jesus saved him but he also rebuked him.
Matthew 14:
He rebuked him, not to be mean but to teach him a lesson.
And many times God has to do the same thing with us.
We have to take a little bit of a rebuke so that we don’t forget the lesson.
And the lesson was not to loose focus on Jesus.
Recognizing the Son (vs 32-36)
Recognizing the Son (vs 32-36)
And when the lesson was learned . . .
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Matthew 14:
And the sad thing is sometimes, it takes bad things happening before we can recognize who God actually is.
And then though we have a sharp contrast to what took place in Jesus’ hometown . . .
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
Matthew 14:
At home Jesus couldn’t do anything much because they didn’t believe and were not willing to come.
Here we find people who do recognize Jesus for who Jesus was.
And as a result, many were healed.
Altar Call
Altar Call
And for us tonight, I know that we are all going through things in our lives.
I don’t know all of the details about what everyone is going through but know people are going through things.
And what I would like for us to do is spend some quiet time with God.
Take our focus off of all the things of the world and all the problems we have encountered.
And recognize God at work in you and through you.
Recognize that God is there with you.
And be refreshed and renewed knowing that God is in control.
Can we do that tonight?